Florida Community Association Counsel

St. Augustine HOA & Condo Association Attorneys

St. Johns Law Group’s St. Augustine HOA and condo association attorneys advise homeowners’ associations, condominium associations, boards, community association managers, developers and property owners on governance, covenants, assessments, collections, contracts, disputes, construction issues and litigation throughout St. Johns County and Northeast Florida.
Request a Consultation Call (904) 495-0400 Email Our Team
HOAs • Chapter 720 Condominiums • Chapter 718 General Counsel • Litigation
Hillary Mesa St. Augustine Florida HOA and condominium association attorney at St. Johns Law Group
St. Johns Law Group
St. Augustine Area’s Largest Law Firm
15 Attorneys
Full-Service Legal Team
300+ Years
Combined Legal Experience
100+ Jury Trials
Trial Experience Across the Team
1,000s of Closings
Real Estate Transactions
Community Association Counsel

How Can Our HOA & Condo Attorneys Help?

Choose the area most closely related to your association, board, management or property issue.

HOA Legal Counsel

Governance, enforcement, collections, meetings, elections and Chapter 720 matters.

HOA Counsel →

Condominium Counsel

Chapter 718 governance, assessments, records, common elements and disputes.

Condo Counsel →

General Counsel

Ongoing legal guidance for boards, officers and community association managers.

Association Services →

HOA & Condo Litigation

Covenant, assessment, property, architectural, contract and association disputes.

Litigation →

Governing Documents

Declarations, bylaws, rules, amendments, restatements and interpretation.

Documents & Governance →

Assessments & Liens

Delinquency notices, lien rights, payment arrangements and collection strategy.

Collections →

Construction & Turnover

Developer transition, common-area defects, Chapter 558 and construction disputes.

Construction Law →

Mediation & Resolution

Negotiation, mediation and strategic resolution of community association disputes.

Mediation →
Explore Our Community Association Practice

St. Augustine HOA & Condo Legal Services & Resources

Go directly to the SJLG service or resource page addressing your association, board, management, property or dispute matter.

Association Representation

Homeowners’ Association Counsel Condominium Association Counsel HOA & Condo Association Lawyers General Counsel for Associations Hillary Mesa — Community Association Attorney

Governance & Operations

Governing Documents & Amendments Board Governance & Elections Covenant & Rule Enforcement Records, Meetings & Condo Compliance HOA & Condo Law Guide

Disputes & Property

Civil Litigation & Lawsuits Real Estate Litigation Easement Litigation Quiet Title Property Damage Florida Anti-SLAPP Claims

Development, Construction & Resolution

Land Development & Zoning Construction Law & Defects Chapter 558 Construction Claims Construction Mediation & Arbitration SJLG Mediation Center
General Counsel for Associations

Practical Legal Guidance Before Problems Become Lawsuits

Community associations make recurring decisions involving governing documents, meetings, records, vendors, owners, architectural review, assessments and common property. Ongoing counsel can help boards understand their authority, follow required procedures and make defensible decisions.
Board & Officer Guidance
Meeting & Election Issues
Records Requests
Vendor Contracts
Architectural Review
Legal Opinions & Notices
General Counsel Services →
St. Johns Law Group conference rooms and reception area for HOA and condominium association meetings
Board Governance

Meetings, Elections, Records & Governing Documents

Good association governance depends on both the governing documents and the Florida statutory framework applicable to the community.

Declarations, Bylaws & Rules

Drafting, interpretation, amendment, restatement and implementation of community documents.

Board Procedures

Authority, voting, quorum, notices, elections, meetings, resolutions and director responsibilities.

Official Records

Guidance concerning association records, inspection requests, document retention and transparency obligations.
Home in a Florida HOA subdivision represented by St. Johns Law Group community association attorneys
Covenant & Rule Enforcement

Consistent, Procedurally Sound Community Enforcement

Enforcement disputes can involve architectural restrictions, use limitations, nuisance issues, short-term rentals, maintenance obligations, common areas and allegations of selective enforcement.
Explore HOA Counsel
Assessments, Liens & Collections

Protecting the Association’s Financial Stability

Regular and special assessments fund community operations. Collection strategy should be consistent, legally compliant and proportionate to the delinquency.

Delinquency Notices

Review and preparation of notices before escalating collection activity.

Claims of Lien

Evaluation and enforcement of association lien rights when legally available.

Payment Arrangements

Structured resolution of delinquent accounts where an agreed plan serves the association.

Foreclosure & Litigation

Escalation to litigation when necessary and appropriate.
HOA & Condo Litigation

When a Community Dispute Requires Litigation

SJLG combines community-association knowledge with a broader civil, real estate and trial practice.

Enforcement Actions

Covenants, rules, restrictions and architectural-control disputes.

Declaratory & Injunctive Relief

Judicial determination or urgent relief where legal rights require court intervention.

Contract & Vendor Disputes

Disputes involving management, maintenance, construction and service agreements.

Defense of Owner Claims

Defense strategy for claims asserted against an association, subject to conflicts and engagement.
Developer Turnover & Construction

Transition Issues Often Require Real Estate, Construction and Association Counsel

Developer-to-owner transition can raise questions concerning records, budgets, common property, infrastructure, warranties and construction conditions.
Construction LawLand Development & Zoning
Color site plan and aerial overlay surrounded by Florida HOA subdivisions for land use and community development counsel
Community Association Experience

Association Counsel Informed by Development, Governance & Litigation

SJLG’s community association practice draws on experience with communities of varied sizes, development approvals, ongoing board counsel and contested disputes.

10 → 10,000+ PropertiesExperience with communities of varied sizes
100+ PUD ApprovalsDevelopment-side perspective
General CounselOngoing board & management guidance
Dispute → TrialIntegrated litigation capability
Counsel for Community Association Managers

Legal Support for CAMs & Property Management Companies

Community association managers often identify legal issues first. SJLG works with CAMs and property management professionals throughout St. Augustine and Northeast Florida to help boards obtain timely legal guidance while respecting the attorney-client relationship with the association.
St. Johns Law Group tent, flag and meeting table set up for an outdoor HOA and condominium community association meeting

Working With Boards, Managers & Community Leadership

Effective association representation depends on clear communication among the board, management and legal counsel. We help CAMs identify when a matter needs legal review, organize the facts and records, and move the issue toward a practical decision.

Board Questions

Board authority, procedures and governing documents.

Enforcement Support

Covenant issues, notices, architectural disputes and escalation strategy.

Contract Issues

Vendor agreements, performance disputes, termination and risk allocation.

Litigation Coordination

Preserving records, organizing facts and coordinating association litigation.
Florida Community Association Framework

Association Law Intersects With Multiple Florida Statutes & Practice Areas

The applicable requirements depend on the type of community and issue involved.
Chapter 720Florida homeowners’ associations ↗
Chapter 718Florida condominium associations ↗
Dispute ResolutionNegotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation where applicable →
Explore Mediation Services
Meet the Community Association Team

HOA, Condo, Real Estate, Construction & Litigation Attorneys

Association matters can benefit from lawyers who understand governance and the underlying property, insurance, contracts, construction, development, local-government and litigation issues.
Hillary N. Mesa St. Augustine HOA and condominium association attorney

Hillary N. Mesa

HOA & Condo Association Law • Governance • Litigation View Profile →
Ann Miles St. Augustine business contracts and governing documents attorney

Ann Miles

Governing Documents • Business • Contracts View Profile →
Douglas N. Burnett St. Augustine real estate land development HOA and litigation attorney

Douglas N. Burnett

Real Estate • Land Development • HOA • Complex Litigation View Profile →
Shaun C. Saliba St. Augustine construction and property litigation attorney

Shaun C. Saliba

Construction • Property Disputes • Litigation View Profile →
Alex Nunchuck St. Augustine premises liability insurance litigation and appellate attorney

Alex Nunchuck

Premises Liability • Insurance • Litigation • Appeals View Profile →
Megan Burnett Drysdale St. Augustine real estate contracts and trial attorney

Megan Burnett Drysdale

Real Estate • Contracts • Trial Team View Profile →
James G. Whitehouse St. Augustine local government and land use attorney

James G. Whitehouse

Local Government • Land Use • Development • Litigation View Profile →
Florida HOA & Condo FAQs

Common Community Association Questions

General information only; governing documents and facts can materially affect the analysis.
What does general counsel do for an HOA or condominium association?General counsel can advise on governing documents, statutory compliance, meetings, elections, records, contracts, enforcement, collections and disputes.
What is the difference between an HOA and a condominium association?Florida homeowners’ and condominium associations have different ownership structures and generally different statutory frameworks, including Chapters 720 and 718.
Can an association enforce covenants and architectural restrictions?Associations may have enforcement authority under their governing documents and applicable law. The restriction, procedures, defenses and enforcement history should be reviewed.
Can an association place a lien for unpaid assessments?Florida law may provide association lien rights, subject to statutory and governing-document requirements.
Can a board amend its governing documents?Often yes, but the procedure and required approval depend on applicable law and the association documents.
What should a board do when an owner requests official records?The board and management should identify applicable requirements, preserve responsive records and address the request within required procedures and time periods.
What happens during developer turnover?Turnover can involve control, records, finances, contracts, common property and potential construction or warranty issues.
Can an association dispute be mediated?Many disputes can be negotiated or mediated, and some may be subject to statutory pre-suit or alternative-dispute-resolution procedures.
Can an association sue over construction defects?Potential claims depend on the defect, responsibilities, contracts, warranties, parties and Florida pre-suit requirements such as Chapter 558 where applicable.
Does St. Johns Law Group work with community association managers?Yes. SJLG works with boards and management professionals while representing the association as the client when engaged by the association.
Recent Legal Insights

Recent Florida HOA & Condo Association Articles

Recent SJLG resources addressing community association governance, enforcement and related Florida law.
Talk With Our Community Association Team

Request an HOA & Condo Association Consultation

If your board, association, management company or property matter requires legal guidance, contact St. Johns Law Group.

St. Johns Law Group 104 Sea Grove Main Street St. Augustine, Florida 32080 (904) 495-0400 info@sjlawgroup.com

Call Our OfficeEmail SJLG

Contact St. Johns Law Group

Complete the contact form and a member of our team can contact you regarding your inquiry. Submission does not create an attorney-client relationship.

CALLSCHEDULE